“That's not possible.”
I pulled his hands off my face and wrapped his tattooed arms around my shoulders. After placing a kiss on his throat I buried my head in his chest, “I wish that were true.” My life had drastically changed in such a short amount of time. For obvious reasons, I'd had to break up with Brandon and now Chase and I were going to have a baby. Because of the turn of events, I found myself wanting a life with Chase more and more, I wanted him to be there for me and his baby. Here, wrapped up in his strong arms, I could almost let myself believe it might happen. But Chase was about to graduate college, he was a tattoo artist and spent most of his mornings surfing. I couldn't see him settling down with me and our baby.
“It is Harper,” his voice cracked when he said my name, and tears started falling down his face, “I love you so damn much, why can't you see that?”
Oh God no, please don’t cry again. My eyes instantly watered again looking at him. I couldn’t mean this much for him to start crying in public at the thought of us not being together, could I? “I have to go, I'm sorry.”
“Harper please. Please don't just walk away, talk to me baby.”
I kept my head down and walked around the corner to meet Bree near the parking lot. Her eyes widened when she saw the two of us together and took in the trails of tears on both our faces. I glanced around and people were looking in confusion as Chase begged me to stop. I probably would have stared too, if I saw a six foot three inch gorgeous man covered in muscles and tattoos crying. He didn't seem to notice or care. I shook my head once at Bree and she reigned in her expression.
“Harper, please talk to me!”
I reached Bree's side and turned to him, “I will. We will talk, but right now I have to go.”
A choked sigh escaped his throat when I lifted my hands to wipe away his tears. “Promise?” I nodded and he whispered, “I love you.” kissed the inside of my wrist and watched me step back. Bree lightly brushed her hand against his arm and he jumped back, he looked nervously between the two of us but slightly relaxed when she smiled at him. He hadn't even known she was there though her arm was wrapped around my waist. Now that he'd seen her he took in the few people staring at us and ducked his head as he walked away.
When we were in her car, Bree grabbed my hand and looked at me, “I've never once in my life seen Chase cry. There is no doubt in my mind he is completely in love with you Harper, you have to tell him you're pregnant and he's the dad.”
Never seen him cry? That made me feel even worse since I’d made him cry three times in the last month and a half. “I will, just not today. First, I need to tell your mom that he is.”
She bit her lip and looked at me, unsure. She didn't think I ever would. I'd told her mom, Sir and Brandon all in the first day of finding out, but it had been over a week and I still hadn't talked to Chase.
“Let's go, we need to get to lunch so I can tell Mom.”
She smiled, cranked her car and drove us to the restaurant. I thought about that night with Brandon on the way over. Besides Bree, he was the only one who knew about Chase, and I was still surprised he hadn't said anything.
~~~
“Sweetheart, what's wrong?” Brandon grabbed my hands and led me to his room.
Looking at the worry in his eyes just made this harder. I hated myself for doing this to him, and I hated what I was about to do.
“Come here,” he wrapped me in his arms, “tell me what happened.”
I placed my hands on his chest and pushed until he let me go. “Maybe you should sit down.”
“I'll stand.” He said warily.
“Brandon, I –” Just do it Harper. Just like with Mom and Sir, don't skip around it. I stopped and took a deep breath, “I ch–…I'm pregnant.”
He bent slightly at the waist, looking like I'd literally just punched him in the gut. “That's not possible.” His said confused as he sagged onto the bed, “We haven't even –” His face fell and his breath came out in a huff, “Oh my God. Did you cheat on me?”
It was pointless to keep trying to wipe my tears away, they were coming too fast. “Brandon, I'm so so–”
“You cheated on me?!”
I bit my lip and nodded my head.
“And you're pregnant?” He sounded completely defeated. I would have rather he been mad, it would make this so much easier.
“Yes.”
He ran his hand over his buzzed hair and down his face, “Who? Never mind. I already know.”
“How? Did he tell you?”
“I'm not stupid Harper. I see the way you look at him when you think I'm not watching, and you bite your lip and space out whenever you look at that damn ring.”
He did know. “Brandon, I'm sorry! It was just one weekend, and I hate myself for it!”
“Does he already know?” He glanced up to meet my eyes.
“No.” It barely came out above a whisper.